A digital process to replicate the socket-foot alignment in below-knee running specific prostheses

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Sports Science

Background:

• Optimizing running prostheses for Paralympic athletes with below-knee amputation is essential for competitive performance.
• Accurate socket-foot alignment and prosthesis replication are critical but currently involve complex, error-prone methods.
• Existing procedures for prosthesis adjustment are costly, time-consuming, and often necessitate socket destruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an innovative CAD/CAM workflow for replicating and refining socket-foot configurations in below-knee sprinting prostheses.
• To provide a controlled and efficient method for socket adaptation and alignment adjustments.
• To demonstrate the workflow's applicability in elite Paralympic athletics.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) workflow.
• Application of the workflow to replicate existing socket-foot configurations without dismantling the original prosthesis.
• Implementation of fine-tuning adjustments to prosthesis alignment in a controlled manner.
• Validation through two case studies with elite Paralympic runners (transtibial and partial foot amputations).

Main Results:

• The proposed CAD/CAM workflow successfully replicated the desired socket-foot configuration for running prostheses.
• The workflow enabled precise socket adaptations and controlled fine-tuning of alignment.
• Case studies demonstrated the practical utility and effectiveness for elite Paralympic athletes.

Conclusions:

• The developed CAD/CAM workflow offers a significant advancement in the construction and adjustment of running prostheses for athletes with below-knee amputations.
• This method enhances the ability to reproduce optimal prosthesis configurations, facilitates necessary adjustments, and supports athletes in achieving their full potential.
• The workflow presents a more efficient, accurate, and less destructive alternative to current bench procedures for prosthesis management.